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From stunning cliffside beaches unique to this region of Portugal to the unmissable dish you cannot leave without trying, here are 11 ultimate things to do in Lagos, Algarve!
The Algarve, Portugal’s southernmost region, known for its scenic cliffside beaches, unique water caves, and mesmerizing views of the Atlantic, had been on my bucket list for a while. So I knew it was a stop we wanted to add to our Lisbon travel itinerary.
Deciding where to start our Algarve adventure was a task I didn’t take lightly. It was important to choose a good home base for the couple of days we would be spending there, and after some research, we landed on Lagos, Portugal.
This sleepy seaside town has a relaxed local vibe with top-notch brunch spots and incredible local eateries. It is off the beaten path enough that even in the middle of July it never felt saturated by tourists, as other areas of Europe would be.
Lagos is also home to some of the most stunning beaches in the region, as well as being a short drive away from many of the top things to do in the Algarve. Because of this, I would say is a must in your Lisbon-Algarve travel itinerary.
From lounging around unique cliffside beaches to hiking along the most stunning trail by the ocean, to fun water activities, there are so many unique and fun things to do in Lagos, Algarve!
So get your sunscreen ready and let’s get started!
11 Ultimate Things To Do In Lagos, Algarve
1) Walk the sleepy streets of Lagos, Portugal
While Lagos, Algarve is a great starting point for many adventures out of the town, the town itself is something worth visiting.
This adorable white-washed town is easy to explore by foot, with small residential winding streets leading you up to the town center. Where you will find a variety of surf shops, coffee shops, casual local eateries, and modern Portuguese restaurants.
Staying close to the town made this part of the holiday feel like a real European beach holiday, staying in a local sleepy seaside town, with no resorts or sky-high buildings in sight. Pure slow-paced seaside bliss!
2) Take in the dramatic Algarve landscape from the scenic Ponta da Piedade
One of the ultimate things to do in Lagos, Algarve is to visit the scenic Ponta de Piedade.
Ponta da Piedade is an unmissable viewpoint in Lagos, Portugal from where you will get an incredible perspective over the rock formations and the bright blue Atlantic Ocean spreading far into the distance.
There is a trail area, Passadicos da Ponta da Piedade, that you can walk on with mesmerizing views everywhere you look, so take your time while exploring this area.
- Access to Ponta de Piedade is free, as well as the parking.
3) Take a boat ride with Grotto Pioneers Tours
Another incredible way of admiring the Algarve’s iconic water rock formation is from up close and personal, which you can do by taking a boat tour.
When visiting Ponta de Piedade, make your way to the lighthouse Farol da Ponta Piedade, and to your left, when looking down onto the water you will see a long winding staircase, which will lead you to the anchoring point of Grotto Pioneers boat tours.
A small company operating since 1901, offering personal boat tours to admire the rock formations and unique caves which you can only access from the water.
The tour is 25 euros per person, you get the whole boat for your group and an explanation of the caves and their names from the boat operator.
There’s no need to book in advance, just show up and wait for the next boat to come back.
4) Lounge at the stunning Praia Dona Anna
One of the ultimate things to do in Lagos, Portugal is to lounge at its stunning cliffside beaches, like the picturesque Praia Donna Anna.
Praia Dona Anna is a very short drive from Lagos, Portugal, you can even walk there, but we chose to rent a car for freedom of movement.
This particular beach is one of the best ones in the area surrounding Lagos, Algarve when it comes to beauty, surrounded by golden rocks, and still providing ample space for people to lounge around. Contrary to some other incredibly picturesque but smaller beaches.
One of the best beaches in the Algarve to visit and spend hours basking in the sun and freshening up in its crispy cold waters.
5) Indulge in fresh seafood at Pearl Food Trailer
Back in Lisbon, a local recommended I skip the seafood in Lisbon and wait for the Algarve, where the seafood comes in fresh, and she was right.
Later in the afternoon one day I had this irrational urge to have some oysters. Because what else says I’m on a beach holiday other than enjoying some freshly shucked oysters by the water right?
After a quick search, this little spot, Pearl Food Trailer, came up with an outstanding 4.9 score in Google Maps with almost five hundred reviews, so we knew we found our place.
Pearl Food Trailer, is a small food truck set across the canal from Lagos city center, serving up some charcuterie boards, as well as the star of the show, freshly shucked oysters.
The oysters were some of the best I ever had, tasty and flavorful but not overly salty. And with a deal of two oysters per person and a glass of cava for 9 euros, is easy to give in to a little holiday treat.
6) Take a kayak tour to visit the Algarve’s iconic Benagil Cave
I might not have known everything we were going to do in Lagos when I booked the trip, but one thing I had clear, was that I wanted to take a kayak tour to visit the region’s water caves, particularly the iconic Benagil Cave.
Benagil Cave is one of the most unique water caves in the area, with openings both on the side and a big opening on the top that allows light to get in, illuminating the little beach where kayaks land.
The cave was formed around 20 million years ago and is incredible to see all the fossilized seashells on the rock walls, if you look close enough you can see some sand dollars.
We booked our kayak tour with Secret Algarve through Get Your Guide, my favorite activity provider platform and we loved our tour! Our tour guide and kayak instructor was warm, welcoming, informative, and also entertaining.
You will definitely want to take the earliest slot possible. We did 9:30 am to avoid the incredibly busy midday wave of kayakers and boats arriving at the Benagil Cave.
Without a doubt, one of the ultimate things to do from Lagos, Portugal that you don’t want to miss!
7) Visit one of the Algarve’s most beautiful beaches: Praia do Carvalho
Lagos, Portugal is home to a handful of gorgeous beaches, while also being a great starting point to discovering other unique spots in the Algarve, like the picturesque Praia do Carvalho.
Praia do Carvalho is a short drive from Lagos, and is the perfect stop to spend hours lounging in the sand and swimming in the fresh Atlantic Ocean. With the view of cliffs all around, and impressive rock formations rising from the water.
To arrive to this beautiful tucked away beach you will have to follow a staircase down to the sea level, that continues through a tunnel cutting through a massive piece of rock.
Making it one of the most unique routes you will ever take to get to a beach!
This quintessential Algarve beach is also one of my favorite ones in terms of lounging space, offering a decent sandy stretch for sunbathers to relax on.
8) Try the unmissable Cataplana at Casinha do Petisco
If there is one meal, and one meal only, that you must have while visiting Lagos, Portugal it has to be the Cataplana at Casinha do Petisco.
The cataplana is a typical dish from the Algarve region that consists of seafood cooked in a Cataplana, a metallic sort of cooking plate. The seafood becomes some sort of a stew, cooked together with onion, peppers, and tomatoes, that is then accompanied by rice and potatoes.
We ordered the Cataplana Mixta with clams and shrimps, and it immediately became clear why Casinha do Petisco is recommended as THE place to try this regional dish.
It may sound simple, but this was the best meal we had during the whole trip to Portugal, and a whole reason in itself why I would happily go back to Lagos, Algarve.
The place is popular with locals and tourists alike, so book in advance, or arrive early for dinner and put your name down on the waiting list. It will be worth it!
9) Buy local art at Coffee and Waves Coffee Shop
One of my favorite things to get on trips are postcards from local artists. This is an easy-to-pack, inexpensive souvenir that also helps support the local artistic community. And Coffee and Waves is the place to stop in Lagos, Portugal for just that.
Coffee and Waves is a beachy surf-themed coffee shop serving tasty coffee and healthy brunch options, decorated with the works of local artists which are for sale.
From awe-inspiring aquarelle postcards to dreamy paintings of local beaches to whole surfboards hand-painted by a local artist, there are many options here for you to find your perfect trip souvenir.
10) Hike the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail in Lagos
One of the ultimate things to do in Lagos, Portugal is to admire the gorgeous views that you get along the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail.
The Seven Hanging Valleys Trail is a stunning trail that offers the most quintessential views of the region—and the reason why you probably came here in the first place— dramatic cliffs, beautiful golden rocks rising from the water, and views of the Atlantic stretching far and wide.
The views are mesmerizing but make sure to keep an eye on the route, and stay far away from the edge of the cliffs. As there is no guarantee that rocks will not collapse from underneath as the entrance signs will warn you.
11) Lounge at Lago’s picturesque beaches; Praia da Batata and Praia dos Estudantes
One of the top things to do in Lagos, Algarve is to spend time lounging around Lagos’s beautiful beaches, and the closest ones are Praia da Batata and Praia dos Estudantes.
Praia da Batata is Lagos main beach, being the most accessible by foot from the city, and a good spot to lay under the sun if convenience is what you are after.
Praia dos Estudantes is nearby, tucked away behind a small tunnel that goes through a massive rock. This small sheltered beach is the quintessential Algarve beach, small and intimitate surrounded by warm-colored rocks, offering a unique view from your beach blanket.
Arrive early in the day or later in the afternoon to find a good spot to lie on, as this one is quite smaller than the neighboring Praia da Batata.
A trip to Lagos, Portugal is everything you could want a beach holiday to be.
With fun activities like kayaking into water caves, gorgeous beaches to lay on, and incredible seafood to try, there are so many incredible things to do in Lagos, Algarve to make your trip unforgettable.
So we hope you found this guide to the ultimate things to do in Lagos, Algarve useful for your next trip to this stunning region of Portugal!
Are there any top things to do in Lagos, Portugal that we forgot about? Let us know in the comments, as we will surely be back!